diff --git a/api/server/controllers/agents/v1.js b/api/server/controllers/agents/v1.js
index 2aa416f840..bc92a4b663 100644
--- a/api/server/controllers/agents/v1.js
+++ b/api/server/controllers/agents/v1.js
@@ -226,8 +226,6 @@ const uploadAgentAvatarHandler = async (req, res) => {
       return res.status(400).json({ message: 'Agent ID is required' });
     }
 
-    let { avatar: _avatar = '{}' } = req.body;
-
     const image = await uploadImageBuffer({
       req,
       context: FileContext.avatar,
@@ -236,10 +234,12 @@ const uploadAgentAvatarHandler = async (req, res) => {
       },
     });
 
+    let _avatar;
     try {
-      _avatar = JSON.parse(_avatar);
+      const agent = await getAgent({ id: agent_id });
+      _avatar = agent.avatar;
     } catch (error) {
-      logger.error('[/avatar/:agent_id] Error parsing avatar', error);
+      logger.error('[/avatar/:agent_id] Error fetching agent', error);
       _avatar = {};
     }
 
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ const uploadAgentAvatarHandler = async (req, res) => {
       const { deleteFile } = getStrategyFunctions(_avatar.source);
       try {
         await deleteFile(req, { filepath: _avatar.filepath });
-        await deleteFileByFilter({ filepath: _avatar.filepath });
+        await deleteFileByFilter({ user: req.user.id, filepath: _avatar.filepath });
       } catch (error) {
         logger.error('[/avatar/:agent_id] Error deleting old avatar', error);
       }
diff --git a/api/server/controllers/assistants/v1.js b/api/server/controllers/assistants/v1.js
index 5a922cec6b..982e212b7e 100644
--- a/api/server/controllers/assistants/v1.js
+++ b/api/server/controllers/assistants/v1.js
@@ -241,7 +241,6 @@ const getAssistantDocuments = async (req, res) => {
  * @param {string} req.params.assistant_id - The ID of the assistant.
  * @param {Express.Multer.File} req.file - The avatar image file.
  * @param {object} req.body - Request body
- * @param {string} [req.body.metadata] - Optional metadata for the assistant's avatar.
  * @returns {Object} 200 - success response - application/json
  */
 const uploadAssistantAvatar = async (req, res) => {
@@ -251,7 +250,6 @@ const uploadAssistantAvatar = async (req, res) => {
       return res.status(400).json({ message: 'Assistant ID is required' });
     }
 
-    let { metadata: _metadata = '{}' } = req.body;
     const { openai } = await getOpenAIClient({ req, res });
     await validateAuthor({ req, openai });
 
@@ -263,10 +261,15 @@ const uploadAssistantAvatar = async (req, res) => {
       },
     });
 
+    let _metadata;
+
     try {
-      _metadata = JSON.parse(_metadata);
+      const assistant = await openai.beta.assistants.retrieve(assistant_id);
+      if (assistant) {
+        _metadata = assistant.metadata;
+      }
     } catch (error) {
-      logger.error('[/avatar/:assistant_id] Error parsing metadata', error);
+      logger.error('[/avatar/:assistant_id] Error fetching assistant', error);
       _metadata = {};
     }
 
@@ -274,7 +277,7 @@ const uploadAssistantAvatar = async (req, res) => {
       const { deleteFile } = getStrategyFunctions(_metadata.avatar_source);
       try {
         await deleteFile(req, { filepath: _metadata.avatar });
-        await deleteFileByFilter({ filepath: _metadata.avatar });
+        await deleteFileByFilter({ user: req.user.id, filepath: _metadata.avatar });
       } catch (error) {
         logger.error('[/avatar/:assistant_id] Error deleting old avatar', error);
       }
diff --git a/api/server/services/Files/Local/crud.js b/api/server/services/Files/Local/crud.js
index 18bf5127fd..12b7738828 100644
--- a/api/server/services/Files/Local/crud.js
+++ b/api/server/services/Files/Local/crud.js
@@ -202,8 +202,20 @@ const deleteLocalFile = async (req, file) => {
   }
 
   if (file.filepath.startsWith(`/uploads/${req.user.id}`)) {
-    const basePath = file.filepath.split('/uploads/')[1];
-    const filepath = path.join(uploads, basePath);
+    const userUploadDir = path.join(uploads, req.user.id);
+    const basePath = file.filepath.split(`/uploads/${req.user.id}/`)[1];
+
+    if (!basePath) {
+      throw new Error(`Invalid file path: ${file.filepath}`);
+    }
+
+    const filepath = path.join(userUploadDir, basePath);
+
+    const rel = path.relative(userUploadDir, filepath);
+    if (rel.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(rel) || rel.includes(`..${path.sep}`)) {
+      throw new Error(`Invalid file path: ${file.filepath}`);
+    }
+
     await fs.promises.unlink(filepath);
     return;
   }
diff --git a/client/src/components/SidePanel/Agents/AgentAvatar.tsx b/client/src/components/SidePanel/Agents/AgentAvatar.tsx
index 983044308b..aa0ca44f04 100644
--- a/client/src/components/SidePanel/Agents/AgentAvatar.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/SidePanel/Agents/AgentAvatar.tsx
@@ -135,10 +135,6 @@ function Avatar({
       formData.append('file', input, input.name);
       formData.append('agent_id', createMutation.data.id);
 
-      if (typeof createMutation.data.avatar === 'object') {
-        formData.append('avatar', JSON.stringify(createMutation.data.avatar));
-      }
-
       uploadAvatar({
         agent_id: createMutation.data.id,
         postCreation: true,
diff --git a/client/src/components/SidePanel/Builder/AssistantAvatar.tsx b/client/src/components/SidePanel/Builder/AssistantAvatar.tsx
index c94c1c956b..dc0f5fbd24 100644
--- a/client/src/components/SidePanel/Builder/AssistantAvatar.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/SidePanel/Builder/AssistantAvatar.tsx
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ function Avatar({
       setInput(null);
       setPreviewUrl(data.metadata?.avatar as string | null);
 
-      const res = queryClient.getQueryData<AssistantListResponse>([
+      const res = queryClient.getQueryData<AssistantListResponse | undefined>([
         QueryKeys.assistants,
         endpoint,
         defaultOrderQuery,
@@ -78,16 +78,15 @@ function Avatar({
         return;
       }
 
-      const assistants =
-        res.data.map((assistant) => {
-          if (assistant.id === assistant_id) {
-            return {
-              ...assistant,
-              ...data,
-            };
-          }
-          return assistant;
-        }) ?? [];
+      const assistants = res.data.map((assistant) => {
+        if (assistant.id === assistant_id) {
+          return {
+            ...assistant,
+            ...data,
+          };
+        }
+        return assistant;
+      });
 
       queryClient.setQueryData<AssistantListResponse>(
         [QueryKeys.assistants, endpoint, defaultOrderQuery],
@@ -149,10 +148,6 @@ function Avatar({
       formData.append('file', input, input.name);
       formData.append('assistant_id', createMutation.data.id);
 
-      if (typeof createMutation.data.metadata === 'object') {
-        formData.append('metadata', JSON.stringify(createMutation.data.metadata));
-      }
-
       uploadAvatar({
         assistant_id: createMutation.data.id,
         model: activeModel,
@@ -195,10 +190,6 @@ function Avatar({
       formData.append('file', file, file.name);
       formData.append('assistant_id', assistant_id);
 
-      if (typeof metadata === 'object') {
-        formData.append('metadata', JSON.stringify(metadata));
-      }
-
       uploadAvatar({
         assistant_id,
         model: activeModel,